Getting Rid Of Brown Tint & Sand Query

[justjon]

Does anyone know of a way to get rid of the brown tint that bogwood gives off? I've had it in my tank now for over 4 months and it's really annoying me, especially after seeing someone elses tank (same as mine) with amazing crystal quality water.

I'm also thinking of switching to sand again, i've though of this a few times, what are the advantages, and drawbacks, and is cleaning it easily? Will my fish be happy with sand? (See below)...

Could I remove the gravel piece by piece and put the sand in with no fish stress?

 

[fishy55599]

It looks alot better with sand, it is pretty easy to clean if you buy a gravel cleaner (which i gotta do soon).
fish like the sand better if find, expecially catfish, loaches and plecos.

But you would have to take them out to do it.

 

[alex.wardle]

I had this exact problem. All I did was took all the bog wood out placed in a bucket ( plural if you have a lot) and boiled the hell out of it for about a week. Fill the buckets with red hot tab water then Keep topping up with kettle water leave to cool empty and repeat gets a bit boaring after a while tho. You should notice for the 1st day or 2 the water will be bright orange but this will subside. Plus get you self some active carbon in mesh bags, preferably, and but it in you filter. This stuff is amazing cleanes up your water in a matter of hours. After the Week of boiling place in your smaller bits of wood. A day or 2 after the larger ones. A few large water changes will help to remove the colour from the water as well once you have removed the wood. I would say sand as well. Curently I have natural light gravel buts that's only coz I got a 40kg worth of it free with my tank.
Get your self a clear storage box from a cheep shop normally about £5 fill with tank water pop your fish in empty you tank gravel add you sand and then put your fish back in. No reall stress to the fish. Add a good dose of tap safe to the container to mellow out your fish as well.

I would defonalty recommend the active carbon tho pal

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Worth living with I personally reckon, as the tannins are believed to be beneficial to the fish.

 

[Dskize]

Purigen

Had the exact same issue ,read up on here and bought this stuff ,worked brilliantly ,there are still very slight tannins in the water which the fish seem to be happy with and you cant really tell exist unless you look throught the tanks sidelong,plus you can leave it in your filter for months where-as I believe you have to keep changing carbon.